Method of aerodynamically ejecting ions

ABSTRACT

Discloses the method of aerodynamically ejecting and liberating on the outboard output side of an ion device a predetermined amount, optionally ranging from minimum to maximum, of the ions generated on the inboard output side of said ion device through discrete, electrode-configuration disposition and application of magnitude-fixed, DC voltage between the electrodes.

United States Patent Paul B. Fredrickson Sudbury, Mass.

Jan. 27, 1969 Apr. 6, 197 l Augion-Unipolar Corporation Guilderland,N.Y.

[72] Inventor [21 Appl. No. [22] Filed [45] Patented [73] Assignee [54]METHOD OF AERODYNAMICALLY EJECTING IONS 9 Claims, 2 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl. 317/4, 317/262AE [51] Int, Cl 1105b [50] FieldoiSearch....3l7/3,4, 262, 262 (AB); 250/495, (60, 61)

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,765,975 10/ 1956Lindenblad 230/69 2,004,352 6/1935 Simon 310/5 3,337,784 8/1967 Lueder317/262 2,043,217 6/1936 Yaglou 204/32 2,264,495 12/ 1941 Wilner 317/42,925,534 2/1960 Ferguson... 317/4 3,335,275 8/1967 King 250/4952,982,647 5/ 1961 Carlson et a1 96/ 1 Primary ExaminerLee T. HixAssistant ExaminerC. L. Yates Att0rney-Walter F. Wessendorf, .lr.

ABSTRACT: Discloses the method of aerodynamically ejecting andliberating on the outboard output side of an ion device a predeterminedamount, optionally ranging from minimum to maximum, of the ionsgenerated on the inboard output side of said ion device throughdiscrete, electrode-configuration disposition and application ofmagnitude-fixed, DC voltage between the electrodes.

{ Patented April 6, 1911 3,573,547

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PAUL B. FREDRlCKS-ON BY METHOD OF AERODYNAMICALLY EJECTING IONS Thisinvention relates to the field of art pertaining to ion devices.

In this field of art, prior-art attempts have been made to increase thequantity of unipolar ions produced by increasing the applied voltageand/or by using a menagerie of configurations for the ionization,corona-discharge, discharge, emitter or ion-generating electrodes. Withrespect to the problem of the ion-generating electrode, the attack hasbeen principally directed to the ion-generating electrode itselfor, whatis arbitrarily referred to herein as the inboard output side of the iondevice. However, the ions generated by the ion-generating electroderemain the air space of the ion-generating electrode notwithstanding thevoltage applied. Hence, the determining factor in rating any ion deviceis not the quantity of unipolar ions generated by the ion-generatingelectrode on the inboard output side, but rather the quantity ofunipolar ions which are liberated and forced out on what is arbitrarilyreferred to herein as the outboard output side.

Accordingly, the utility and value of ion devices is not measured by thequantity of unipolar ions generated on the inboard output side, butrather the quantity of unipolar ions liberated and set free on theoutboard output side. The unipolar ions generated on the inboard outputside have no value and no use for purposes of external air ionization.The unipolar ions generated on the inboard output side have value anduse for purposes of external air ionization only when such generatedunipolar ions are liberated and set free on the outboard output side.These facts are demonstrated through the number of patents in thisfield, on a comparison basis, which are completely useless. The onlyacceptable standard of measurement of ions liberated and set free on theoutboard output side is the quantitative number of ions liberated perunit volume per unit of time-or, as conventionally expressed: the numberof ions per cubic centimeter per second.

Some of the prior patents in this field make cursory mention of thisstandard of measurement, but none of the prior patents express thisstandard of measurement with its relationship to the parametric factorsinvolved.

The objects of this invention are to solve the problems of the art byattack on the outboard output side to actually and physically liberateand set free a predeterminable amount, optionally ranging from minimumto maximum, of the ions generated on the inboard output side byaerodynamically causing the ions generated on the inboard output side tobe liberated and set free.

This invention further solves the problems of the art by providing anexpression based upon structure, relation-expressed as mutuallydependent parametric factors, and by means of which an ion device can beconstructed to aerodynamically eject a predeterminable, invariablequantity of ions per cubic centimeter per second from the outboardoutput side. By analogy, the difference between the prior art and thisinvention is the comparison of alchemy to chemistry. And, there being nodictionary or recognized reference definition of the terms: equation,formula, expression or relation, the term expression is used herein.

Because the prior-art devices do not liberate and set free any practicalor useful quantities of ions on their outboard output sides, other thanminute quantities of ions liberated and set free by leakage, someprior-art ion devices resort to dangerous and uncontrollable radioactivesources in attempting to solve the problems of the art.

Patented prior-art devices fail to recite details of total outboard ionoutput in relation to inboard ion generation, and fail to disclose therequired parametric values and their pertinent relationships which wouldreadily confirm or deny the broad and unsupported assertions made withrespect to these priorart devices.

Some of the patented prior-art devices, by their very constructions, areincapable of liberating any ions on the outboard output side. Affordingother patented prior-art devices full credence to their contentions ofliberating ions on the outboard output side-although their contentionsare based upon incomplete data, requisite relations and parametricvalues necessary for confirmation are not disclosed, and neitherconfirmatory theoretical analyses nor empirical measurements aredisclosedthe quantity of ions aerodynamically ejected and liberated fromthe outboard output side of the electrode configuration shown in FIG. 1of this invention and described with reference thereto range from lOOtimes greater to almost one billion times greater than patentedprior-art devices.

These objects and other objects of the invention should be discerned andappreciated by the detailed specification taken in conjunction with thedrawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to similar partsthroughout the several views, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view, partly in section, showing a configurationof electrodes in accordance with the method;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the power supply for the electrodeconfiguration.

To facilitate the understanding of the invention in conjunction with thedrawings, a nomenclature list is herewith provided.

NOMENCLATURE 1 generally refers to device 3 top support member 5 bottomsupport member 7 side support member 9 side support member 1 l bareemitter wire 13 bare grid wire 15 bare grid wire l7 generally refers tohigh voltage power supply 19 wire lead 21 wire lead 23 ground wire lead25 negative-high-voltage, output wire 27 positive-high-voltage, outputwire 29 jumper wire 31 ground connection 3 3 wire 3 5 conducting plate37 conducting plate 39 jumper wire 41 jumper wire In FIG. 1, referencenumeral 1 generally refers to the device showing top and bottom supportmembers 3 and 5 of nonconductive material and side support members 7 and9 of nonconductive material. Support members 3, 5, 7 and 9 are joinedtogether, as shown. Emitter wire, emitter electrode or iongeneratingelectrode 11 is disposed interiorly of side support members 7 and 9, asshown, and the end of emitter wire 11 are suitably fixed to side supportmembers 7 and 9. Grid wires or electrodes 13 and 15 are disposed on theexterior surfaces of side support members 7 and 9, as shown, and theends of grid wires 13 and 15 are suitably fixed therewith. Grid wires 13and 15 are parallel to each other and are coplanar. Emitter wire 11 isparallel with grid wires 13 and 15. if imaginary lines, normal to thelongitudinal axis of the emitter wire 11 and the longitudinal axes ofeach of the grid wires 13 and 15, were drawn from emitter wire 11 toeach of the grid wires 13 and 15, the emitter wire 11 would form theapex of an isosceles triangle.

In FIG. 2, reference numeral 17 generally refers to the highvoltagepower supply. The power supply 17 is of conventional design and is shownconnected to the conventional ll0-volt root mean square, 60-cyclealternating current power source through wire leads l9 and 21, andground wire lead 23. The negative-high-voltage, output wire 25 of thehigh-voltage power supply is insulated and is connected to the bareemitter wire 11. The positive-high-voltage, output wire 27 of thehighvoltage power supply is insulated and is connected to bare grid wirel3. The bare grid wires 13 and 15 are electrically connected together byjumper wire 29. The positive-high-voltage, output wire 27 of thehigh-voltage power supply 17 is grounded to the chassis at 31 by wire33.

With reference to FIG. 1, conducting plates 35 and 37, mounted in commonwith the exterior surfaces of top and bottom support members 3 and 5, asshown, are connected by respective insulated jumper wires 39 and 41 togrid wires 15 and 13, respectively. Conducting plates 35 and 37, beingpositive-grounded, function to counteract negative surface charges onthe support members 3 and 5 through positive charges induced on plates35 and 37.

When magnitude-fixed, DC voltage is applied between the emitter wire 11and grid wires 13 and 15, a discrete and fixed quantity of unipolar ionsper second is produced in the air space relative to the emitter wire 11,and a discrete and fixed quantity of unipolar ions per second isaerodynamically ejected from the region of the grid wires 13 and 15, aswell as the concomitant production of discrete wind velocity and windpressure. The air space relative to the emitter wire 11 is referred toas the inboard output side of the ion device, and the region boundedexternally by the grid wires 13 and 15 is referred to as the outboardoutput side of the ion device.

As a comparative relationship, the quantity of unipolar ions per secondejected from the outboard output side is not as great as the unipolarions per second generated on the inboard output side. The unipolar ionsare aerodynamically ejected from the outboard output side in cooperationwith wind velocity and as a result of wind velocity, with the windvelocity being in the direction from the emitter wire 11 to the gridwires 13 and 15.

The magnitude of wind velocity and concomitant wind pressure, and thequantity of unipolar ions ejected from the outboard output side aremutually dependent. The greater the wind velocity, the greater thenumber of unipolar ions ejected from the outboard output side; and, theless the wind velocity, the fewer the number of unipolar ions ejected.

Solution of relative expressions by standard techniques determine theconfigurations of the emitter wire 11 and the grid wires 13 and 15 forthe range of minimum to maximum mutually dependent unipolar ions ejectedper second, and wind velocities and concomitant wind pressure produced,on the outboard output side.

Outboard output wind pressure in dynes per square centimeter isexpressed as equal to the quotient of the dividend [the product of themultiplicand K multiplied by the two multipliers (the length of one ofthe emitter or grid wires and the square of the applied voltage) whereinthe multiplicand is 0.00000000l ll farads per centimeter], and thedivisor [which is the product of a multiplicand of a squared addition oftwo addends multiplied by the multiplier of the square of a leg distancefrom the emitter wire to one of the grid wires multiplied by the sine ofhalf of the apex angle included between imaginary lines from the emitterwire to each of the grid wires and multiplied by the cosine of half ofsuch apex angle, wherein one of said addends is the natural logarithm ofthe quotient of the dividend of a leg distance from the emitter wire toone of the grid wires divided by divisor of the radius of the emitterwire, wherein the other of said addends is the product of themultiplicand (which is the quotient of the natural logarithm of thedividend of a leg distance from the emitter wire to one of the gridwires divided by the divisor of the radius of one of the grid wires)multiplied by the multiplier (which is the quotient of the dividend,which is the quotient of the dividend of the natural logarithm of thelength of one of the wires divided by the divisor of the leg distancefrom the emitter wire to one of the grid wires, divided by the divisor,which is the quotient of the dividend of the natural logarithm of theleg distance from the emitter wire to one of the grid wires divided bythe divisor of the radius of one of the grid wires) Such solution ofrelative expressions had determined that a configuration of the emitterwire 11 and grid wires 13 and 15 as an isosceles right triangle, withthe emitter wire 11 at the apex, effects maximal outboard outputejection of unipolar ions per cubic centimeter per second and maximalproduction of wind velocity; and that decrease or increase of the apexangle, with maintenance of the isosceles configuration, correspondinglydecreases to a minimum the quantity of aerodynamically ejected unipolarions per cubic centimeter per second and correspondingly decreases to aminimum the production of wind velocity. The expression also confirmsthat the grid wires 13 and 15 must be parallel to each other andcoplanar, and parallel with emitter wire 11.

Such solution of relative expressions determine: the voltage appliedbetween the electrodes, the radii of the electrodes, the spacing betweenthe electrodes, the length of the electrodes and the wind velocity-allas mutually dependent parametric factors. Further relative expressionsof the mutual dependence of wind velocity and aerodynamic ejection ofunipolar ions per cubic centimeter per second ejected from the outboardoutput side and the wind velocity produced.

Modification of the configuration shown in FIG. 1, in accordance withand governed by the relative expressions, would have N emitter wires andN plus 1 grid wires. The emitter wires would be parallel to one anotherand coplanar, the grid wires would be parallel to one another andcoplanar, and the emitter wires would be parallel to the grid wires. Theemitter and grid wires would form isosceles triangles having the sameapex angles of the emitter wires relative to their immediately adjacentgrid wires, and each emitter wire would share a common grid wire. In thedescribed and delineated configuration of N emitter wires and N plus 1grid wires, there would be a corresponding, proportional increase in thetotal quantity of unipolar ions per second aerodynamically ejected,without any increase in density, and a corresponding, proportionalincrease in the volumetric flow of air in the direction from the emitterwires to the grid wires, without change in wind velocity compared to thewind velocity produced from the configuration shown in FIG. 1.

The invention disclosed herein has utility and application fortherapeutic purposes, odor elimination, control and abatement ofpollutants from industrial stacks, control and abatement of pollutantsfrom vehicular exhaust systems, direct conversion of electrical energyto kinetic energy, purification of air, purification of water andsewage, promotion of plant growth, climate control, antifatigue, etc.,and for such other applications were unipolar ions have utility.

lclaim:

l. The method of aerodynamically ejecting, liberating and setting freefor purposes of useful external air ionization a predeterminable amount,discrete-configuration-controllable to range from minimum to maximum, ofunipolar ions per cubic centimeter per second and concomitant,corresponding wind velocities from a discrete and fixed quantity,dependent upon magnitude-fixed, DC voltage applied, of unipolar ions percubic centimeter per second generated in an air space, comprising thesteps of: disposing a discrete quantity of electrodes in a discreteconfiguration for effecting aerodynamic ejection, liberation and settingfree for purposes of useful external air ionization of a predeterminableamount, controlled by said discrete configuration of electrodes to rangefrom a minimum to a maximum amount, of unipolar ions per cubiccentimeter per second of said unipolar ions per cubic centimeter persecond generated in said air space upon application of magnitude-fixed,DC voltage between said electrodes, and for producing concomitant,corresponding wind velocities; and applying said magnitude-fixed, DCvoltage between said electrodes to generate said discrete and fixedquantity of unipolar ions per cubic centimeter per second in said airspace, and to aerodynamically eject, liberate and set free for purposesof useful external air ionization said discrete-configuration-controlledamount of unipolar ions per cubic centimeter per second and to producesaid concomitant, corresponding wind velocity.

2. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein said electrodes areemitter and grid wires.

3. The method in accordance with claim 2, wherein said emitter and gridwires are rectilinear, are parallel to one another, and wherein saidgrid wires are coplanar.

4. The method in accordance with claim 3, wherein each emitter wire hasrelatively adjacent grid wires, wherein imaginery lines drawn from saidemitter wire to its immediately adjacent grid wires would fonn the apexangle of an isosceles triangle, and wherein an additional imaginary linedrawn between said grid wires would form an isosceles-triangleconfiguration.

S. The method in accordance with claim 4, wherein, when said apex angleis 90, a maximum amount of unipolar ions per cubic centimeter per secondare aerodynamically ejected and said wind velocity produced is at itsmaximum magnitude.

6. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein said electrodes are Nemitter wires and N plus 1 grid wires.

7. The method in accordance with claim 6, wherein said emitter and gridwires are rectilinear, wherein said emitter wires are parallel to oneanother and are coplanar, wherein said grid wires are parallel to oneanother and are coplanar,

and wherein said emitter wires are parallel with said grid wires.

8. The method in accordance with claim 7, wherein each emitter wire hasrelatively adjacent grid wires, wherein imaginary lines drawn from eachof said emitter wires to its immediately adjacent grid wires would fonnthe apex angle of an isosceles triangle, and wherein an imaginary linedrawn between said grid wires would form an isosceles-triangleconfiguration.

9. The method in accordance with claim 8, wherein, when said apex anglesare a maximum amount of unipolar ions per cubic centimeter per secondare aerodynamically ejected with a proportional increase in the totalquantity of said unipolar ions per second ejected without increase indensity, and said wind velocity produce is at its maximum magnitude withproportional increase in volumetric air flow.

1. The method of aerodynamically ejecting, liberating and setting freefor purposes of useful external air ionization a predeterminable amount,discrete-configuration-controllable to range from minimum to maximum, ofunipolar ions per cuBic centimeter per second and concomitant,corresponding wind velocities from a discrete and fixed quantity,dependent upon magnitude-fixed, DC voltage applied, of unipolar ions percubic centimeter per second generated in an air space, comprising thesteps of: disposing a discrete quantity of electrodes in a discreteconfiguration for effecting aerodynamic ejection, liberation and settingfree for purposes of useful external air ionization of a predeterminableamount, controlled by said discrete configuration of electrodes to rangefrom a minimum to a maximum amount, of unipolar ions per cubiccentimeter per second of said unipolar ions per cubic centimeter persecond generated in said air space upon application of magnitude-fixed,DC voltage between said electrodes, and for producing concomitant,corresponding wind velocities; and applying said magnitude-fixed, DCvoltage between said electrodes to generate said discrete and fixedquantity of unipolar ions per cubic centimeter per second in said airspace, and to aerodynamically eject, liberate and set free for purposesof useful external air ionization said discrete-configuration-controlledamount of unipolar ions per cubic centimeter per second and to producesaid concomitant, corresponding wind velocity.
 2. The method inaccordance with claim 1, wherein said electrodes are emitter and gridwires.
 3. The method in accordance with claim 2, wherein said emitterand grid wires are rectilinear, are parallel to one another, and whereinsaid grid wires are coplanar.
 4. The method in accordance with claim 3,wherein each emitter wire has relatively adjacent grid wires, whereinimaginery lines drawn from said emitter wire to its immediately adjacentgrid wires would form the apex angle of an isosceles triangle, andwherein an additional imaginary line drawn between said grid wires wouldform an isosceles-triangle configuration.
 5. The method in accordancewith claim 4, wherein, when said apex angle is 90*, a maximum amount ofunipolar ions per cubic centimeter per second are aerodynamicallyejected and said wind velocity produced is at its maximum magnitude. 6.The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein said electrodes are Nemitter wires and N plus 1 grid wires.
 7. The method in accordance withclaim 6, wherein said emitter and grid wires are rectilinear, whereinsaid emitter wires are parallel to one another and are coplanar, whereinsaid grid wires are parallel to one another and are coplanar, andwherein said emitter wires are parallel with said grid wires.
 8. Themethod in accordance with claim 7, wherein each emitter wire hasrelatively adjacent grid wires, wherein imaginary lines drawn from eachof said emitter wires to its immediately adjacent grid wires would formthe apex angle of an isosceles triangle, and wherein an imaginary linedrawn between said grid wires would form an isosceles-triangleconfiguration.
 9. The method in accordance with claim 8, wherein, whensaid apex angles are 90*, a maximum amount of unipolar ions per cubiccentimeter per second are aerodynamically ejected with a proportionalincrease in the total quantity of said unipolar ions per second ejectedwithout increase in density, and said wind velocity produce is at itsmaximum magnitude with proportional increase in volumetric air flow.